Belt conveyer system



Jan. 2l, 1936. J. T. NEEDHAM BELT CONVEYER SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 6, 1930 gm.. wkl

mw @www b Jan. 21, 1936.A J. T. NEEDHAM BELT 'CONVEYER SYSTEM Original Filed June 6, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JOHN 'l'. NEEDHAM a am ATTORNEY Nerster omer.

BELT CONVEYER, SYSTEM John T. Needham, North Plainfield, N. I., as-

signor to GeneralConveyers Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Canada Application June c, 1930, serial No. 4559.507 Renewed July 8, 1932 32 Claims.

This invention relates more particularly to belt systems for conveying dispatch sheets in telegraph oices or the like. Important -objects of the'invention are,` to provide a generally improved belt system of this character; to provide a belt system designed for operation at high speed to provide a reliable belt system designedfor a more positive and safe transmission of the dispatch sheets-or other conveyed articles; to provide improved junctures.betweenfseveral cooperating belt lines; toprovide asatisfactory juncture between a pickup belt.` lineand aefeed line delivering to the pick-up line` at an intermediate point in the latter; to providemeans for a more satisfactory discharge ci the dispatch sheets from the conveyor system; Vand toprovide other improved features of design which will be described hereinafter. I

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the general layout ofthe belt system;A

Fig. 2 a vertical section taken through the system, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 a side elevation showing the powertransmission means at one of the belt junctures;

Fig. 4 a vertical section taken through the systern, on the line tI- 4 of Fig. 2;.

Fig. 5 a perspective view of` a juncture between a feed line and a pick-up line;

Fig. 6 a horizontal section taken. on the line -Scf Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 a side View of the belt discharge means for the system;

Fig. 8 a section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7

lig. 9 a section taken on the line 9.-9 of Fig. 8; an Y Fig. 10a side junctures.

A s shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, my belt system includes a plurality of parallel feed lines I all disposed at the same level. At an overhead level is a pick-up line 2 extending transversely with respect to saidv feed lines. From an interv.view of one or' the Vfeed line mediatev point in each feed line I a Vertical feed` line 3 leads upward to the pickfup line. Each feed line is adapted to be fed at a plurality of` points therealong .witli dispatch sheets or other articles to be conveyed, and conveyor belts carry the deposited sheets inwardly in opposite directions along the lines I, upwardlyalong the lines i and along the line 2 to a discharge point. In the useof the system in a telegraph oice or the like, the operators will be seated along both sides of? each feed line I, at positions adjacent thesaid feed points.

(Cl. ISS- 165) The various belt lines of the system are supported by skeleton frames. Each line Il has a frame i formed by four longitudinal members 5 connected by transverse members 6 and defining a rectangular space therebetween in cross section. 5 Standards l support said frame at a suitable elevation. The frame 8 of the pick-up line 2 is similarly formed of four longitudinal members 9 connected by transverse members I 9. Each vertical line has a frame II extending from the floor 10 to the ceiling and intersecting the pick-up frame and also one of the feed line frames. The vertical frame i I is also formed of long vertical members I2 connected by'transverse members I3 and secured at their upper and lower ends to the ceiling and door respectively.

Each feed line I is divided by its connected vertical line into two sections which are infeiect branches of line 3. Extending inward along each branch from the outer end thereof to line 3 are 20 ccnveyer belts. Long endless belts `Ill extend along the length vof the branches within the frame l and are trained over pulleys I5 spaced therealong and over inner end pulleys I6 and I'I at the intersection of lines tand 3. Pulleys I6: are 25 disposed above the level of pulleys I5 andV close together within the vertical frame I I, and pulleys Il are spaced slightly below the level of pulleys I5 and outwardly of pulleys I5. Thereby the belts I4 of the two branches are trained to con- 30 verge upwardly atthe juncture of lines I and 3. The upper strand I4a of each belt I4 is in direct contact with the pulleys I5 and the under strand travels over .an intermediate pulley I8. Above each long belt I4 is a series of shorter endless 35 belts I5 arranged in succession along said long belt and trained over pulleys 2U so that their understrands I9a are in face to face contact with the upper strand Ida ofbelt I4. Pulleys are disposed intermediate the pulleys I5. and at such a level with relation to the latter as to train the strands Ida and I9a along a slightly zig-Zag course so as to hold said strands in close contact. These contacting strands are adapted to hold the dispatch sheets therebetween and con- Vey them to the vertical line 3. At the outer end of each branch the adjacentpulleys I5 .and 20 and the belts trained over them dene a flaring mouth 2| through which the dispatch sheets are fed between the contacting conveyer strands. Other mouths 22 are defined at intermediate points along the line by adjacent pulleys 20 and the successive belts I 9. Over each mouth 2l and 22 ismounted a small hopp-er 23 to receive the sheets and direct them into the mouth.

Cil

ia fof belt 59 will deflect it from saidbelt 25 and cause-Sinto `drop inbetween the nstrands 53a -and 59a The strands 58a and 59a do not grasp -the idispatchisheets until they have :been dropped into i the tapered chute between said strands, `so that the auxiliary delivery belts 58 :and 59 may be drivenat a much lower speedzthanfthe main pickvtends the entire length of .the :pick-up `line is "directly driven. Said belt through the frictional fcontact of its under strand 25a with the upper strands'Siia of theshorter belts 30 serves to drive the latter belts. In the same manner the belt 32 is driven. There are also drivingiconnections linking up the successive belts 3Q and also the belt `32 across the junction gaps. These driving connections are formed by sprocket wheels 56 fixed to the shafts Sie of the pulley 3l and by driving chains 6l Vconnecting said sprocket wheels across the gaps. These chain drives have been omitted -from Fig. 4 to avoid confusion.

The `belts of the vertical feed ylines 3 and of the horizontal feed lines I are preferably driven independently of the pick-up line 2 by motors S8. Each of said -motors drives the belts of one vertical feed `line and its connected horizontal feed line and is mounted in any convenient position,A as -within the upper end of the supporting frame ii of the vertical line. Upon the motor shaft is 'fixed a pulley 59 and uponv the shaft 42a of pulleys 42 and 59 is fixed a pulley l0. Trained 4around said pulleys is a driving belt ll. A gear 12 is also fixed upon shaft 62a and meshes with a gear 'H3 of the same diameter fixed upon the shaft le of the pulley lll. Thereby, belts 3S vand 3l of the vertical line are driven atthe same speed and their opposed cooperating `strands 36a and 37a travel in the same direction. At the lower end of the vertical line the shaft 38a of'each pullevi has fixed to it a gear 'M which meshes with a gear l5 of the same diameter, fixed to the shaft Ita of the adjacent pulley it. Thereby each of the belts 38 and 31- drives one of the horizontal belts l, and each belt I4 drives its cooperating belts I9 by frictional contact.

Throughout the system the pulleys of the various conveyer belts are rotatably supported by shafts ywhich are suitably supported by the skeleton frames. Preferably these pulleys are all of the same diameter. The belts are preferablyof a narrow fiat type, belts .only two inches Yin width having been found satisfactory. It is possible also rto employ cords `or the like in place of belts. Therefore in the claims, the term belt, unless qualied, is to be construed in its broadest sense to `include cords or similar equivalents.

In Athe .operation of the belt system, operators stationed along the feed lines i will deposit the dispatchsheets in the hoppers 23 by which they .are delivered into the mouths 2l or 22 and thence between the opposedfcooperating traveling belt strands `Ita and l9a by which they are gripped and conveyed to the juncture between the horizent-al feed line and the vertical feed line. Here they are delivered into the inverted -V-shaped mouth 4G and thence between the opposed co ioperating belt strands 36a `and 3l*3V which grip them :and convey themuto the juncture ,of the Vertical line with the pick-up line where they are delivered tothe narrowobliquely disposed transfer .belts 52. The latter deliver the sheets upwardly and forwardly Aand the guide plate 53 guides ithem between the opposed cooperating strands `25a and Sie (or ZfL and 32a) by which they are gripped andfconveyed along the pick-up line 'and downward to the discharge belts 58and Sli-which strip them from the conveyer vbelts and discharge them at a reduced speed, to avoid disturbance at the discharge point and prevent the sheets `from flying about. Sheets which are required to pass oneorgmore feed line junctures in their `travel along the pick-up line are conveyed across said junctures 'without interruption by the narrow auxiliary belts F19 cooperating with the long belt strands 25a. A sheet is in fact conveyedwithout interruption from any one of the 4feed points vto the discharge point.

When itis required to cut out any one of the feedg'lines for the purpose of repairing or replacing one of its belts the motor 58 driving said line is stopped. The drive of the vertical feed line and its connected horizontal feed line is then stopped without aifeoting the drive of the pick-up line. `The motors t8 are controlled by switches i6 which are mounted within convenient reach of the operators and have electrii cal connections with themotors as indicated at i. The `motor 52 .of the pick-up line is independently controlled bya switch 78.

The design of the system provides for the safe and positive transmission of `dispatch sheets or` L Ier lines meeting at an angle. Another advanf tage which the system possesses is the visibility and accessibility of the conveyer belts. They `are all exposed so that any obstruction or other trouble in the conveyor lines can be readily seen and corrected.

While-I have shown and described a very satisfactory form of my invention I do not wish to Abe `limited strictly to this disclosure but reserve the right to make such changes as will lie within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a belt conveyer system, a oonveyer line comprising a plurality of endless conveyer belts, `and pulleys training said belts to present cooperating strands arranged in opposed relation for holding articles therebetween and conveying them along the line; means to drive said belts and move the cooperating strands in the same direction and at the same speed; a plurality of relatively small pulleys driven with the rst mentioned pulleys of said conveyor belts at the discharge end of the line; a plurality of larger pulleys spaced from the discharge end; and endlless belts trained around said small and large pulleys and adapted to receive articles, therebetween' from the discharge end of the line, deflect them from said conveyer belts and discharge them from between the larger pulleys at a speed slower than their rate of travel along the conveyer line.

2. In Ya belt conveyer system, an overhead pickup conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a relatively long reach of one belt and a series of directly opposed and sho-rter reaches of other belts therebelow juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles and to define a plurality of downwardly facing mouths for entry of articles into the pick-up conveyer line, means for driving said belts to cause said coacting relatively long belt reach and shorter belt reaches to travel in the same direction, a plurality of feeder conveyer lines each associated with a different one of said downwardly facing entry mouths of said overhead pick-up conveyer line and each comprising a pair of endless belts having upwardly extending opposed coacting article-gripping and conveying reaches terminating at one of said mouths, and means for driving the belts of the feeder lines in directions causing said coacting reaches of each feeder line to deliver articles gripped therebetween to the associated entry mouth of the pick-up line.

3. In a belt conveyer system, an overhead pick-up conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a relatively long reach of one belt and a series of directly opposed and shorter reaches of other belts therebelow juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles and to define a plurality of downwardly facing mouths for entry of articles into the pick-up conveyer line, means for driving said belts to cause saidcoacting relatively long belt reach and shorter belt reaches to travelv in the same direction, a plurality of feeder conveyer lines each associated with a different one of said downwardly facing entry mouths o-f said overhead pick-up conveyer line and each comprising a pair of endless belts having upwardly extending opposed coacting article-gripping and conveying reaches terminating at one of said mouths, means for driving the belts of the feeder lines in directions causing said coacting reaches of each feeder line to carry articles gripped therebetween to the associated entry mouth of the pick-up line, and transfer means for directing articles laterally from the feeder lines into the pick-up line in the general direction of conveyance of articles by the pick-up line.

4. In a belt conveyer system, an overhead pickup conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a relatively long reach of one belt and a seriesl of directly opposed and shorter reaches of other belts therebelovv juxtaposed end-to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles and to define a plurality of downwardly facing mouths constantly open for entry of articles into the pick-up conveyer line, means for driving said belts to cause said coacting relatively long belt reach and shorterbelt reaches to travel in the same direction, a plurality of feeder conveyer lines each associated with a different one of said downwardly facing entry mouths of said overhead pick-up conveyer line and each comprising a pair of endless belts having upwardly extending opposed coacting reaches terminating at one of said mouths, means for driving the belts of the feeder lines in directions causing said coacting reaches of each feeder line to deliver articles gripped therebetween to the associated entry mouth of the pick-up line, and means for directing articles moving along the pick-up line across the entry mouth gaps between adjacent ends of the shorter belt reaches of said pick-up line and permitting constant entry of articles to the pick-up line through said gaps.

5. In a belt conveyer system, an overhead pickup conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a relatively long reach of one belt and a series of directly opposed and shorter reaches of other belts therebelow juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles and to define a plurality of downwardly facing mouths for entry of articles into the pick-up conveyer line, means for driving said belts to cause said coacting relatively long belt reach and shorter belt reaches to travel in the same direction, a plurality of feeder conveyer lines each associated with a different one of said downwardly facing entry mouths of said overhead pick-up conveyer line and each comprising a pair of endless belts having upwardly extending opposed coacting reaches terminating at one of said mouths, means for driving the belts of the feeder lines in directions causing said coacting reaches of each feeder line to deliver articles gripped therebetween to the pick-up line,

and means whereby any feeder line may be put -f out of action without affecting operation of the other feeder lines and the pick-up line.

6. In a belt conveyer system, an overhead pickup conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a relatively long reach of one belt and a series of directly opposed and shorter reaches of other belts therebelow juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles and to dene a plurality of downwardly facing mouths for entry of articles into the pick-up conveyer line, means for driving said belts to cause said coacting relatively long belt reach and shorter belt reaches to travel in the same direction, a plurality of feeder conveyer lines each associated with a different one of said downwardly facing entry mouths of said overhead pick-up conveyer line and each comprising a pair of endless belts having upwardly extending opposed coacting reaches terminating at one of said mouths, and individual motors for driving the several feeder lines, the driving means for the pick-up line comprising a motor individual to said pick-up line.

7. In a belt conveyer system, pairs of article receiving and conveying feeder lines, a main article conveying line, the feeder lines of each pair. having their delivery ends juxtaposed, connecting conveyer lines each extending from the delivery point of one pair of feeder lines to a different point on the main line, said feeder lines and said main line each comprising a plurality of endless belts one of which has a reach extending to the delivery point and the others of which each has a shorter reach opposed to said firstmentioned reach with said shorter belt reaches juxtaposed end to end for insertion of articles into said feeder and main lines between the adjacent ends of saidshorter belt reaches, said connecting lines each comprising a pair of belts having coactive opposed reaches arranged for reeiving articles discharged from', its associated pair of feeder lines and delivering the same to its associated article insertion point of the main line, and means for driving all the belts in directions to convey articles inserted in the several feeder lines and comprising a'pair of `belts having conecting conveyer lines 'each extending from the delivery point of one pair of feeder lines to a diiferent point on the main line, said feeder linesand said main line each comprising a plurality of endless belts one of which has a reach extending to the delivery point and the others of which each has a shorter reach opposed to said first-mentioned reach with said shorter belt reaches juxtaposed end to end for insertion of articles into said feeder andmain lines between the adjacent ends of said shorter belt reaches, said connecting lines each comprising a pair of belts having coactive opposed reaches arranged for receiving articles from its associated pair of feeder lines and delivering the same to its associated article insertion point of the main line, and driving means for driving the belts to convey articles to the discharge point of the main line and including means whereby the respective connecting lines with their associated feeder lines may be put out of action individually.

9. In a belt conveyer system, pairs of article receiving and conveying feeder lines, a main article conveying line, the feeder lines of each pair having their delivery ends juxtaposed, connecting conveyer lines each extending from the delivery point of one pair of feeder lines to a different point on the main line, said feeder lines and said mainline each comprising a plurality ofendless belts one of which has a reach exe tending to the delivery point and the others of which each has a shorter reach opposed to said first-mentioned reach with said shorter belt reaches juxtaposed end to end for insertion of articles into said feeder and main lines between the adjacent ends of said shorter belt reaches, said. connecting lines each comprising a pair of belts having. coactive opposed reaches arranged for receiving articles from its associated pair of feeder lines and delivering the same to its associated article insertion point of the main line, means for driving the main conveyer line, and individual driving means for each connecting conyeyer line and its associated pair of feeder lines.

10.. Ina belt conveyer system, a pair of article receiving and conveying feeder lines extending toward each other from opposite directions and having their delivery ends juxtaposed, each line comprising a plurality of endless belts one of which has a reach extending to the delivery point and the others of which each has a shorter reach opposed to said rst mentioned reach with said shorter belt reaches juxtaposed end to end for insertion of articles into said feeder lines between the adjacent ends of said shorter belt reaches, and a belt conveyer line leading transversely from the juxtaposed ends of said feeder lines and comprising a pair of belts having coactive opposed reaches arranged for receiving articles from said feeder lines and conveying them away from the latter.

11.` In a belt conveyer system, a pair of article receiving and conveying feeder lines extending toward each other from opposite directions and having their delivery ends juxtaposed, each line comprising a plurality of endless belts one of which has a reach extending to the delivery point and the others of which each has a shorter reach opposed to said first mentioned reach with said shorter belt reaches juxtaposed end to end for insertion of articles into said feeder lines betweenv the adjacentends of said shorter belt reaches, and a belt conveyer line leading transversely from the juxtaposed ends of said feeder active opposedreaches arranged for gripping articles therebetweenv andy conveying them, said latter belts being trained to define an entry mouth forV directing articles between the said ccactin'g reaches thereof, and the belts of the feeder lines being trained to deliver the articles into said mouth.

12. In a belt conveyer system, a conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a reach' of one belt and a pair of directlyopposed reaches of other belts therealong juxtaposed. end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles and'to define a constantly open' mouth between their juxtaposed ends for entry of articles into the line, means for driving said belts to'cause their coactive reaches to travel in the same direction, and belt means for dilrecting 'articles moving along the lines across the entry mouth gap while at the same time permitting entry` ofi articles to the line through said gap.

13. linl a. belt conveyer system, a conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts tra-ined. to provide a reach of one belt and a pair of directly opposed reaches 'of other beltstherealong juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to gripV and transport articles, a pair of pulleys spaced apart "along the first belt reach and having saidv other opposed belts trained around them todene a gap for entry ofarticles into the line, alpair of pulleys coaxial with and at opposite sides of onel of said pulleys at one side of" the mouth-gap, a pair of pulleys adjacent the pulley at the` opposite side of said gap, a pair of belts trained around said latter pairs of' pulleys and having p reaches coactive with the first reach for directing articles moving along the line across the gap and means for driving all of said belts to cause their coactive reaches to travel in theA same direction.

14; In a beltconveyer system, a conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained; to provide a reach of one belt and a pair'of` directly opposed reaches of other belts juxtaposedend'to end to coact therewith to grip and transport `articles, a pair ofV pulleys spaced' apart' along the iirst belt reach and having said other opposed belts trained around them to'define a gap for entry of articles into the line, a; pairof pulleys coaxial with and at opposite sides of one of said pulleys at one side of said` gap, a pair of` pulleys adjacent the pulley at the opposite side of the gap and spaced therefrom for the admission` of articles therebetween, a pairof belts trained aroundY saidl latter pairs of pulleys and having reaches coactive with the rst reach for directing articles moving along the line across the gap, means for driving all of said belts to cause their coactive reaches` to travel inA the same direction and feeder belt means to deliver articles into the admission space between said adjacent pulleys.

15. In a beltconveyer system, a pick-up conveyerline comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a reach of one belt and a pail' of directly opposed reaches of other belts juxta-- posedend to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles, a pair of pulleys spaced apart along the rst belt reach and having said other opposed belts trained around them to define a gap for entry of articles into the line, a feeder belt line for delivering articles into said gap including a pair ofpulleys adjacent one of said pulleys at one side of said gap and' belts trained around said latter pair of pulleys and having opposed coactive reaches to grip and transport articles, a pair of pulleys coaxial with and at op-posite sides of said pulley at one side of the gap, a pair of pulleys coaxial with and at opposite sides of one of said adjacent feed line pulleys, belts trained around said last-mentioned pairs of pulleys to provide delivery reaches leading from the feeder line obliquely to the pick-up line, the other of said pulleys of the feeder line training its belt for coaction with said delivery reaches, rand means for driving all of said belts to cause their coactive reaches to move in the same direction.

16. In a belt conveyer system, a pick-up conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts g trained to provide a reach of one belt and a pair of directly-opposed reaches of other belts juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles, a pair of pulleys spaced apart along the first belt reach and having said other .opposed belts traine-d around them to dene a gap for entry of articles into the line, a feeder belt line for delivering articles into said gap including a pair of pulleys adjacent one of said pulleys at one side of said gap and belts trained around said latter pair of pulleys and having opposed coactive reaches to grip and transport articles, a pair of pulleys coaxial with and at the opposite sides of sai-d pulley at one sideof the gap, a pair of pulleys coaxial with and at opposite sides of one of said adjacent feed line pulleys, belts trained around said last mentioned pairs of pulleys to provide delivery reaches leading from thev feeder line obliquely to the pick=p line, the other of said pulleys of the feeder line training its belt for coaction with said Idelivery reaches, means for driving all of said belts to cause their coactive reaches to move in the same direction, and means for directing articles moving along the pick-up line across said gap.

17. In a belt conveyer system, a pick-up conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a reach of one belt and a pair of directly opposed reaches of other belts juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles, a pair of pulleys spaced apart along the rst belt reach and having said other opposed belts trained around them to define a gap for entry of articles into the line, a feeder belt line for delivering articles into the said gap including a pair of pulleys a-djacent'one of said pulleys at one side of said gap and belts trained around said latter pair ofV pulleys and having opposed coactive reaches to grip and transport articles, a pair of pulleys coaxial with and at the opposite sides of said pulley at one side of the gap, a pair of pulleys coaxial with and at opposite sides of one of said adjacent feed line pulleys, belts trained around said last mentioned pairs of pulleys to provide delivery reaches leading from the feeder line obliquely to the pick-up line, the other of said pulleys of the feeder line training its belt for coaction with said delivery reaches,

means for driving all of said belts to cause their v coactive reaches to move in the same direction, means for directing articles moving along the pick-up line across said gap, comprising .a pair of Vpulleys coaxial and driven with .the other of saidgap pulleys and at opposite sides thereof, a pair of pulleys adjacent said pair of .delivery belts and spaced therefrom for admission of delivered articles, and a pair of belts trained around said pairs of directing pulleys and having reaches opposed to and coactive with said first reach across the gap.

18. In a belt conveyer system, a conveyer line comprising a pair of endless belts trained to provide opposed coacting reaches for gripping and transporting articles and trained to provide reaches diverging from said first reaches and defining a mouth for'entry of articles, a conveyer feed belt for delivering articles into said mouth, a pulley within said mouth training said feed belt to provide a reach thereof opposed to and coactive with one of said diverging reaches to deliver articles between the first reaches, and means for driving all of said belts to move their coactive reaches in the same direction.

19. In a belt conveyer system, a conveyer line comprising a pair of endless belts trained to provide opposed ccacting reaches for gripping and transporting articles and trained to provide reaches diverging from said first reaches and defining a mouth for entry of articles into the line, a pair of conveyer feed belts leading from opposite directions to said mouth, a pair of pulleys within the mouth training said feed belts to provide reaches thereof opposed to and coactive with said 1diverging reaches for delivering articles to the first opposed reaches, and means for driving all of said belts to move their coactive reaches in the same direction.

20. In a belt conveyer system, a conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless conveyer belts,

and pulleys training said belts to present cooperating reaches arranged in opposed relation for holding sheets therebetween and transporting them along the line, means to drive said belts and move their cooperating reaches in the same direction and at the same speed, a plurality of relatively small pulleys coaxial with and driven with the first mentioned pulleys at the discharge end of the line, a plurality of larger pulleys spaced from the discharge end of the line, and endless belts trained around said small and large pulleys to receive sheets therebetween from the discharge end of the line, deflect them from said conveyer belts and discharge them from between the larger pulleys at a slower speed than their rate of travel along the conveyer line, said larger 4 line comprising a plurality of belts trained to present opposed cooperating belt strands for holding articles therebetween and conveying them along said line, means for driving the belts of the pick-up line, a plurality of feeder lines leading toward said pick-up line for delivery of articles thereto and also comprising a plurality of belts trained to present opposed cooperating belt strands for holding the articles therebetween and conveying them along the feeder line, means for independently driving the belts of each feeder line, and means for rendering each feeder line inoperative without affecting the operation of the other feeder lines and the pick-up line,

22. In a belt conveyer system, a conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a reach of one belt and a pair of opposed reaches of other belts juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles and to define a mouth between their juxtaposed ends for entry of articles into the line at an intermediate point on said first belt reach, means to .drive said belts to cause vtheir coactive reaches to travel in the same direction, and auxiliary belt means to direct articles transported by the line across said entrance mouth and simultaneously permit entrance of articles through said mouth to the conveyer line.

23. In a belt conveyer system, a conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a reach of one belt and a pair of opposed reaches of other belts juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles, line pulleys spaced ap-art along the iirst belt reach and having said other opposed belts trained around them to denne a gap in the line, auxiliary pulleys one coaxial with one of said line pulleys at one side of the gap and the other adjacent the line pulley at the opposite side of the gap i and spaced therefrom for the admission of articles therebetween, and an auxiliary belt trained around said auxiliary pulleys and having a reach coactive with the iirst reach for directing articles along the line across the gap.

24. In a belt conveyer system, a conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a reach of one belt and a pair of opposed reaches of other belts juxtaposed end to end tocoact therewith to grip and transport articles, line pulleys spaced apart along the first belt reachV and i having said other opposed belts `trained around them to define a gap in the line, auxiliary pulleys one coaxial with one of said line pulleys at one side of the gap and the other adjacent the line pulley at the opposite side of the gap and spaced therefrom for the admission of articles therebetween, an auxiliary belt trained around said auxiliary pulleys and having reaches coactive with the rst reach for directing articles o along the line across the-gap; and power driven feeder means to deliver articles into said admission space.

25. In a belt conveyer-system, a pick-up oonveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a reach of one belt and a pair of opposed reaches of other belts juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles and to define a mouth between their juxtaposed endsfor entry of articles into the line; a transfer belt trained to provide a reach leading obliquely to the pick-up line at said mouth; a feeder conveyer line leading toward said mouth, and having a conveyer belt with a reach oblique to the pick-up line and opposed to said oblique reach of the transfer belt to coact with the latter to transfer articles from the feeder line to the pick-up line; and means to drive all of said coactive belt reaches in the same direction.

26. In a belt conveyer system, a pick-up conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a reach of Vone belt and a pair of opposed reaches of other belts juxtaposed end toend to. coact therewith to grip and transport articles and to define a mouth between their juxtaposed ends for entry of articles into the line, a transfer belt trained to provide a reach leading obliquely to the pick-up line at said mouth; a feeder conveyer line leading toward said mouth and having a conveyer belt with a reach oblique f to the pick-up line and opposed to said oblique reach of the transfer belt to coact with the latter to transfer articles from the feeder line to the pick-up line; means to drive all of said coactive belt reaches in the same direction, and means to direct articles transported by the pick-up line past said entrance mouth.

27. In combination, a belt sheet conveyer line; and sheet discharge means for said line comprising belts trained to form downwardly converging reaches defining a downwardly tapering discharge chute to receive into its larger upper end sheets discharged from the conveyer line, means to drive the conveyer line at one speed, and means to drive said converging belt reaches downward at a lower speed than that of the conveyer line to discharge the sheets through the lower end of said chute at a reduced speed, said downwardly converging belt reaches being disposed to prevent gripping of the received sheets therebetween before the sheets have been entirely discharged from the conveyer line and to then grip the sheets for positive discharge from the chute.

28. In combination, a belt sheet conveyer line comprising a conveyer line belt around a pulley-at the discharge point of the line; and sheet discharge means for said line comprising auxiliary belts trained to form downwardlly converging reaches defining a downwardly tapering discharge chute to receive into its larger upper end sheets discharged from the conveyer line, means to drive said conveyer line belt at one speed, and means to drive said converging belt reaches downwardly at a lower speed than that of the conveyer line belt to discharge the sheets through the lower end of the chute at a reduced speed, one of said auxiliary belts being trained at the entrance of the chute to deect the sheets from the line belt at said pulley, said downwardly converging belt reaches being disposed to prevent gripping of the received sheets therebetween before the sheets have been entirely discharged from the conveyer line and to then grip the sheets for positive discharge from the chute.

29. In combination a belt sheet conveyer line comprising belts having opposed line reaches to grip sheets therebetween for conveyance along the line, and pulleys training said belts at a discharge point of the line; and sheet discharge means for said line comprising auxiliary belts trained to form downwardly converging reaches defining a downwardly tapering chute to receive into its larger upper end sheets discharged from the conveyer line, means to drive said conveyer line belts at one speed, and means to drive said converging belt reaches downward at a lower speed than that of the conveyer line belts to discharge the sheets through the lower end of the chute at a reduced speed, said auxiliary belts being trained to deflect the sheets from the conveyer line belts at said pulleys at the discharge point of the line and to prevent gripping of the received sheets between the downwardly converging belt reaches before the'sheets have been entirely released from the conveyer line and to then grip the sheets for positive discharge from the chute.

30. In a belt conveyer system, a conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a reach of one belt and a pair of opposed reaches of other belts juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles and to define a mouth between their juxtaposed ends for entry of. articles into the line at an intermediate point on said first belt reach, means to drive said belts to cause their coactive reaches to travel in the same direction, and auxiliary belt means to direct articles transported by the conveyer line across said entrance mouth.

31. In a belt conveyer system, a pick-up conveyer line comprising a plurality of endless belts trained to provide a relatively long reach of one belt and a pair of opposed and shorter reaches of other belts therealong juxtaposed end to end to coact therewith to grip and transport articles and to denea mouth between the juxtaposed ends of said shorter reaches for entry of articles into the pick-up line at an intermediate point on said relatively long reach, means for driving said belts to cause the coactingrelatively long belt reach and shorter beit reaches to travel in the same direction, a feeder conveyer line running toward the said intermediate entry mouth of the pick-up line, means forming a delivery connection between said feeder line and pick-up line at said mouth, and auxiliary belt means to direct articles conveyed by the pick-up line past said entry mouth. Y 32. In combination, a belt sheet conveyer line; and sheet discharge means for said line comprising belts trained to form downwardly converging reaches defining a downwardly tapering dscharge chute to receive into its larger 'upper end sheets discharged from the conveyer line, means to drive the conveyer line at one speed, means to drive said converging beit reaches downward at a lower speed than that of the conveyer line tc discharge the sheets through the lower end of said chute at a reduced speed, said downwardly converging belt reaches being disposed to prevent gripping or the received sheets therebetween before the sheets have been entirely discharged from the conveyer line and to then grip the sheets for positive discharge from the chute, and means at the discharge end of said chute to crimp the sheets before they are discharged.

JOHN T. NEEDHAM.

Jan. 21, 1936. J. T. NEEDHAM BELT CONVYER Filed sept. 2, 1935 INVENTOR QOH N T. NEED HAM ATTORN EY5 

